382 EMIGRANTS TO SOUTH AFRICA. 
so alarmed when the firing commenced, that, from the 
middle of the town, he unconsciously fired upwards into 
the air; there had been also considerable agitation among 
the women and children. Before our arrival at the 
town we were met by Messrs. Evans and Moffat, with 
many Hottentots armed, who had set out to search for us; 
we were mutually pleased to find our apprehensions 
altogether groundless. 
The greater part of the emigrants who lately left 
England for South Africa have settled in the vicinity of 
Theopolis, and to the north and N. E. parts of it. Upon 
the whole, that part of the colony is pleasant and well 
wooded and the soil rich, but it is difficult to lead water 
from the rivers upon the grounds for the purpose of irri- 
gation, owing to the deepness of their channels. Without 
an artificial watering of the lands, the produce must be 
very scanty. 
In consequence of the frequency of commandoes 
against the Caffres during late years, I found the game 
greatly reduced in number, from what it had been on my 
former visit to that remote corner of the colony. 
The great increase of the population in Albany by the 
arrival of so many emigrants from Britain, and the 
prudent measures adopted by government, it is very 
probable will keep the enterprising Caffres within the 
prescribed limits of their own country, on the side of 
the colony; nevertheless the improvements they must 
have made in warfare by their combats with the colonists 
for a series of years, may render them formidable and 
troublesome neighbours to the nations on their borders. 
